Field Design Technician

Great Lakes Energy is looking for a Field Design Technician in our Waters location to design electric distribution lines and fiber infrastructure according to member satisfaction and Rural Utility Service (RUS), federal and state specifications.

Who We Are

For over 85 years, we have powered rural communities across 26 counties in western and northern Michigan. We serve over 128,000 meters as the third-largest Michigan-based electric utility and the state's largest member-owned power company.

We prioritize enriching the lives of our community members. We not only provide electric service, but we also provide reliable and robust fiber technology through Truestream, a communication solutions subsidiary of Great Lakes Energy.

We have over 300 employees who are more than just colleagues - we're a close-knit family of diverse professionals united by a shared vision. Our collaborative environment encourages creativity, empowers growth, and fosters a sense of purpose in everything we do.

A Day in The Life of a Field Design Technician

Ever wonder what it's like to design the infrastructure that provides electricity and high-speed internet to the members of our community? Here's a sneak peek into a day in the life of our Field Design Technician:

• Collaboration - with members, area supervisors, and service coordinators to ensure top-notch results.
• Weekly team meetings - discuss new projects and updates.
• Fieldwork - Meet with members to understand their needs and provide updates for new, upgraded, or relocated electric distribution lines.
• Design - Prepare staking sheets, ensure compliance with specifications, and create transparent cost estimates.
• Exciting Projects - Design layouts for new projects such as subdivisions and other new services.

Why You'll Love This Role:

• Dynamic Environment: Perfect blend of office and fieldwork, with a focus on field activities.
• Autonomy: You regulate your schedule and projects.
• Impactful Work: Your designs establish essential electric and internet services to homes and businesses, making a real difference.
• Growth Opportunities: Continuous learning and development in a supportive team.

Who You Are

You're the kind of person who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys interaction and coordination between the consumer and field crews. You enjoy being in the field, but find technology easy to understand and can pick up on new software quickly. Ideally, you have knowledge of electric and fiber distribution, as well as design experience. You are able to deliver hard news with ease, showing empathy for those affected by your message. You love to help others and have an extra level of patience when explaining difficult-to-understand concepts. Your attention to detail and self-motivation set you apart from the rest. You are competent in land surveying techniques and have a valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving record.

You have an associate's degree in civil engineering technology and one or more years of experience in a related field. No degree? No problem! We are willing to consider equivalent experience.

What's in It for You?

You are valuable to us, and our benefits are here to show it. That's why we put employees first-your health, your family, and your development. We have a number of benefits, both traditional and progressive, to support you and your family through life's various stages. Here's just a taste of what we have to offer:

• The Essentials We foot the bill for comprehensive health insurance benefits. You'll be hard-pressed to find better for you and your family...seriously!
• Time to Spend Generous paid time off (PTO) puts you in the driver's seat for how you'll use your time.
• Better Health Through Better Living We believe healthy employees are happy employees. We have a diverse wellness program that provides support and resources for financial and mental wellbeing, as well as reimbursement for wellness related products such as gym memberships, tennis shoes, and much more!
• When Life Hands You Lemons GLE knows that sometimes life doesn't go as planned. We offer benefit plans to help soften the blow of the unexpected. Life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance packages are paid for by GLE.
• More Time with Your Baby New parents get time off to bond with their new bundle of joy. Parental leave benefits provide two weeks of family-friendly paid leave for moms and dads to bond and care for their growing families. Growing your family through adoption? You're awesome! We may be able to help you with related expenses up to $2,000.
• Never Stop Learning We hire our employees for a reason, and we want to keep them around. We also want to be an industry leader, so we will train you while you work. If you want to further your career, education or job shadow a different position, we do that too.
• Keep it Casual When you work for us, you work in comfort. Blue jeans are the norm in our office.
• Riding Off Into the Sunset Your future is important to us and we have the numbers to prove it. We have two retirement savings plans for eligible employees, with participation rates off the chart! A traditional pension and a 401k option? Yes please!

How To Apply

This is more than a job; it's a journey of innovation and collaboration. So, if you're ready to dive into a day filled with challenges, solutions, and making a real impact, come join us. Your expertise will shape the way we power the future.

We know your time is valuable and that's why our application is short. Grab your resume and answer a few short questions at the link below.

Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

About Great Lakes Energy

As the third-largest Michigan-based electric utility and the largest member-owned power company in Michigan, we have succeeded because we’re a well-run business that is committed to providing energy solutions to more than 125,000 member-consumers in 26 counties in western and northern Michigan, from Kalamazoo to the Mackinac Straits. For more than 80 years, our success has been built around the mutual trust we share with our member-consumers. That’s because our members are also the owners of our electric cooperative.

Connections working at Great Lakes Energy